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Middle East conflict

Brazilian president won’t apologize to Israel — advisor

"We have always treated each other with great respect and defended the idea of a two-state solution, but there is nothing to apologize for," Celso Amorim pointed out

RIO DE JANEIRO, February 19. /TASS/. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will not apologize to Israel after comparing the Israeli operation in the Gaza Strip to the crimes of Adolf Hitler, said Celso Amorim, the president’s envoy for foreign affairs.

"We have always treated each other with great respect and defended the idea of a two-state solution, but there is nothing to apologize for. Israel is putting itself in the conditions of increasing isolation," CNN Brasil quoted him as saying.

On February 19, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz declared the Brazilian president persona non grata until he apologized and retracted his comparison of Israel to Hitler's Germany.

Lula da Silva said on February 18 that the massacres of civilians resulting from Israel's bombardment of the Gaza Strip could be compared to Hitler's crimes against the Jews. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement the same day, saying "the Brazilian president's remarks are shameful and serious." He also said "to compare Israel's actions to the Holocaust and Hitler is to cross a red line" and announced that he had decided, together with Foreign Minister Israel Katz, to immediately summon the Brazilian ambassador to Israel for a stern representation.

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Middle East conflict

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Ukrainian lawmaker Bezuglaya calls out ‘catastrophic situation’ in country’s army

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PREVIEW: Putin to lay flowers at monument on Red Square to mark National Unity Day

Representatives of religious denominations, public and youth organizations will take part in the ceremon

Kiev wants to exchange only militants from its nationalist battalions — Russian diplomat

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Ukrainian ombudsman asks Russia to provide lists of Ukrainians POWs for exchange

Dmitry Lubinets contacted his Russian counterpart Tatyana Moskalkova

Austria accepts terms of payment for Russian gas in rubles — Chancellor

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Russia says 6 Ukrainian drones shot down over Bryansk Region overnight

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Attempts to destroy Iran’s nuclear capacity may expand conflict — top Turkish diplomat

According to Fidan, Israel continues to put forward conditions in talks with the Palestinian movement Hamas

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NATO number one threat to global peace, says French politician

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Russian diplomat says Ukraine took back just 279 POWs, although 935 were offered

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova called such actions of the Kiev regime "political tourism on the blood of its own citizens, its own servicemen"

Missile engine blast at testing site in northern Russia kills two

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Malaysia rejects US call to 'stop being friendly' with Russia — PM

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Russia says its troops mined, blocked one route used by Ukrainian forces in Kursk Region

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Ukraine admits number of deserted soldiers from Armed Forces of Ukraine surpasses 100,000

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Around 100 air attacks of Ukrainian Armed Forces in DPR were foiled in one week

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Medvedev sees West waging real war on Russia in Ukraine

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Medvedev says any new uprising in Ukraine would seek to execute current leaders

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Fencing installed around Harris’ residence in Washington ahead of election

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Press review: Turkey to mediate in Russian-Ukrainian conflict while IDF strikes Gaza

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New Russian combat equipment in 2024